Music. Kids. Bacon. Comics.

Author: Joe Lawler

Every month when Netflix, Hulu and Amazon release the titles of films coming to and leaving the services, I swear that a dozen or so James Bond titles are always on the “addition” section.” So are “Apocalypse Now” and “Apocalypse Now: Redux.” I don’t think they’re ever leaving streaming services, perhaps there’s just some deal… Read More 100 films I haven’t seen: ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’

Recently I took Ava to get her first library card. So far she’s mostly interested in using the computer at the library and checking out lame films for free from their children’s section. For instance, our most recent visit included “Casper’s Scare School,” “Lego DC Superhero Girls: Brain Drain,” and one that I picked out:… Read More 100 Films I Haven’t Seen: ‘My Neighbor Totoro’

I apologize for the delay in this post. Partly it was due to me starting grad school, which has me spending a bit more time reading textbooks than watching movies I’ve never seen. The other factor is that after the events of Charlottesville, I decided to bump up these two films that were already on… Read More 100 Films I Haven’t Seen: ‘Birth of a Nation’ (1915 & 2016)

After two episodes with films that had a more traditional MST3K feel, Cinematic Titanic returns to a weird and creepy 70s film similar to its first outing, “The Oozing Skull.” Also like “The Oozing Skull,” “Legacy of Blood” had multiple titles: “Will to Die” and “Blood Legacy.” The film also starts with a different note… Read More MSTing Links: Cinematic Titanic Episode 4, ‘Legacy of Blood’

Mystery Science Theater 3000 and its related projects are pretty jovial, but there always seems to be bits of drama that pop up in the course of movie riffing. There’s Joe Don Baker’s supposed hatred of the show’s treatment of him in “Mitchell,” the fan-generated Joel vs. Mike flamewars and grumblings by former cast members… Read More MSTing Links: Cinematic Titanic Episode 3, ‘The Wasp Woman’

After the December 2007 release of the first Cinematic Titanic episode, riffing fans had a six-month wait before the next release, “Doomsday Machine.” There are a few changes immediately noticeable, like something of an opening segment with the silhouetted Titans walking into the theater while two unknown figures drop some vague hints about the purpose of… Read More MSTing Links: Cinematic Titanic episode 2, ‘Doomsday Machine’

With the revival of Mystery Science Theater 3000, as well as Rifftrax and The Mads, it feels like we’re in a golden age of movie riffing. But 10 years ago, there was also a mini riffing renaissance going on. Back in 2007, Rifftrax was really hitting its stride, The Bots Are Back cartoons launched on… Read More MSTing Links: Cinematic Titanic episode 1, ‘The Oozing Skull’

I noticed the other day that David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet” was leaving Hulu on Aug. 1, which seemed like the nudge I needed to finally get around to watching it. Film 6: “Blue Velvet” My excuse for not seeing it: I was seven years old when it came out, so that’s probably a good excuse.… Read More 100 films I haven’t seen: ‘Blue Velvet’

My last film was “Blade Runner,” which I said was kind of a cheat. This one is not a cheat. Despite having read multiple Hunter S. Thompson books, I’ve never seen “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” My parents introduced me to the concept of Hunter S. Thompson at a young age, giving me a… Read More 100 films I haven’t seen: ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’